STANFORD, Calif. – Opening a three-game nonconference series with Grand Canyon on Friday night from Sunken Diamond, Stanford (24-22) took a 3-2 lead into the ninth inning only to have the Lopes (29-20) steal the 4-3 victory with two runs in the final frame.
Grand Canyon got a clutch two-out, two-RBI double from Emilio Barreras to take its first lead of the day in the ninth. Michael Diaz got the inning started with a single before Billy Scaldeferri pinch hit and singled to put runners at first and second. A sac bunt moved the runners up 90 feet, but Stanford closer Aidan Keenan struck out Josh Wakefield looking for a big second out. After falling behind 0-1, Barrera lined a ball to left field that evaded the dive of freshman Tatum Marsh and went for the game-winning hit.
Keenan, who pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, was saddled with the loss and dropped to 1-3 on the season after being charged with the two runs over two innings of work.
The comeback victory spoiled a stellar start from sophomore Joey Volchko for Stanford. The right-hander tossed a career-best seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and three walks.
Jace Smith was credited with the victory for Grand Canyon and moved to 1-0 after hanging a zero in the eighth, while closer Walter Quinn retired the side in order in the ninth to secure his 10th save.
The Cardinal jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the first, and answered a Grand Canyon second-inning run with a run of its own to take a 3-1 lead after two frames.
Junior Jimmy Nati and freshman Rintaro Sasaki each delivered RBI-singles in the opening stanza, while Luke Lavin connected for his third home run of the season in the second. The round-tripper was Lavin’s second in as many games after connecting for a solo shot on Tuesday at Santa Clara.
The Lopes managed to cut the deficit to one run at 3-2 in the fifth as Eddy Pelc laced a double to the wall in center field to chase home Wakefield. Barreras also tried to score the game-tying run on the play, but a perfect relay from Brady Reynolds and Temo Becerra was routed to Lavin at the plate just in time to apply the tag.
The relay was one of a handful of impressive defensive plays for the Cardinal that included a pair of double plays to get Volchko out of trouble.
Stanford will look to even the series on Saturday when the teams meet for a 2:05 p.m. first pitch.